The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-29
The Police Court-Pasta and Present

| iho OiiCe eCOuFC-IaSG ana Present
The police court, as it is renovated, with
comfortable seatings for the sovereign citi
zens of the metropolis of the State who may
| care to linger there for a few moments to
observe the manner of the dispensation OF
justice, is quite contrasted picture to what
existed in previous times especially in regard
to those past ages when the chief magistrate
himself held court there. The aesthetic
Hear Ye, Hear ye' of the courts seneschal
does in fact add dignity to the surroundings.
The innovation cannot be condemned in any
sense. In reality it is probably true that
our forefathers in cutting out, pruning and
obliterating, the old fashions that existed for
centuries in the ancient land they came from
threw away some of the kernel with the
husks. 1t would be difficult for republican
sentiment to account for the fact, but did
all those natives who have happened to pay
visit to the Supreme Court in Washington
while it is in session truthfully give their
impression upon the sight of that bakers
dozen of gray, reverend heads filing in TO
their seats, habited in long black silk gown,
as the assemblage respectfully rose and the
crier sang in sonorous tones "Hear ye, hear
We, all ye who have etc.," they would very
probably aver that this little pomp and show
had definite value in impressing the on-look-
er with the dignity of the surroundings and
worthier sense (though it cannot be said
why) of the high judicIals presiding and of
Justice itself.
Coming back to Wilmington, however,
what struck the writer as most remarka-
ble incident on recent visit" Ito the munich
pal building was that after passing out of
the large audience hall where our police JUS
tce presides with such dignity, and reaching
an office where the Chief Magistrate Of viii
mington was found. that, theoretically
-Pehhip6' Pti"hpo VI magistrates IN UnlS Durg
Of ours, was found busily at work in the un-
dignitied occupation of signing dollar dog
tax receipts
The anomaly Of course is in the ridiculous
disgrace that certain enactmeDts, passed in
Dover, have placed upon what should be,
and what by right is, the highest and most
honorable judicial Office within the scope of
the private citizen of Wilmington to adoru.
Our chief magistrate is deprived cf his
ancient rights and honors. In other words
the citizens of Wilmington and their char
ter have been most ANONYMOUSLY despoiled.
the mayor has been shorn of his dignity. In
the municipal court, the seat of chief honor
and dignity, the ancient right to adjudicate
upon all city cases belongs to the Mayor of
the city. .. -".
What is the picture we see now. That
almost of a sinecuTe. Did not Mayor Rhoads
out of what seems to be a most praiseworthy
desire 'to do something" even to the extent
of lending willing hand individually to help
matters in the police department making
special officer of himself in nocturnal guard
over the safety of the goods, persons and
chattels of the citizens--of clerking as dog
tax receipt writer-or some such industrial
pursuit which affords work to his busy
hands-the mayoralty would not be far-re.
moved from the position of an almost sine
cure.